EVERTON SEASON PREVIEW

Great expectations swirl around Goodison Park. With a new manager for a new season, it was inevitable optimism would abound on the opening day.

But the excitement Evertonians feel this summer runs deeper. While Roberto Martinez has been quickly embraced after succeeding David Moyes, it is the role Ross Barkley threatens to play in this campaign that provides an intriguing, exciting subplot.

Barkley’s name has been well known on Merseyside for years. Moyes, after all, gave him his top-flight debut two years ago when he was 17. But this is set to be the campaign when he comes in from the periphery.

Central figure: Midfielder Ross Barkley (right) could become a key player for Everton this season

THREE OTHER YOUNG LIONS

JACK BUTLAND (Stoke)

The keeper, 20, joined for £3.5m from Birmingham and is eyeing a World Cup squad place. Made his England debut last season.

TOM CARROLL (Tottenham)

The 21-year-old midfielder has excellent technique and vision — he just needs to bulk up. Andre Villas-Boas rates him highly.

NATHAN REDMOND (Norwich)

The winger, 19, is fast, tricky and confident and was man-of-the-match for the Under 21s against Scotland last Tuesday.

Midfielder Barkley, who had spells on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds last year, scored on his return to the England Under 21 squad on Tuesday and is set to be involved when the Martinez era begins on Saturday at Norwich.

‘I’m looking forward to this season more than any other,’ says Barkley. ‘There will be more opportunities for me to play.

‘People have opinions about me but not a lot know how I really play as I haven’t had that many chances.Hopefully everyone will see what I can do now. It has been a massive change this summer.

‘Every day I had been at Everton, David Moyes was there and everything I did was based around trying to impress people so they would tell him.’

His determination to succeed is beyond question. This is a young man who has battled back from a series of dreadful injuries, the worst being a triple leg fracture sustained playing for England’s Under 19s when he was 16. He is aware time has arrived to push on.

‘I owe (Moyes) everything,’ adds Barkley. ‘He brought me on as a player and looked after me when I had broken my leg. I was out for a while with a hernia and a broken foot, too.

International class: Barkley scores for England Under 21s against Scotland in midweek

‘I had tough times but I got there in the end. Now Roberto Martinez has come in and, whatever chances I get, I must take them. These are exciting times for Everton and I want to play whatever role I can.’

Senior professionals at Everton tell of a player with enormous natural talent, one who is fearless and not afraid to try something out of the ordinary.

There were times Moyes used to be driven to distraction by that and Barkley perhaps didn’t always get the chances he might have done for his previous manager, who placed a huge emphasis on discipline.

Martinez is set to accept the mistakes in order to find a way to get Barkley in his team.

‘What I look for from players is how you react to a mistake: does it stop you getting on the ball again?’ says Martinez. ‘If Ross makes a mistake, he plays on in the same manner.

‘When a player does that, I have no problems whatsoever. In every game I have seen Ross play, he has shown that bit of magic others do not have.’

Just go away and play: Roberto Martinez is prepared to let Barkley make mistakes